Winston Churchill

A historian who lived through it all, statesman, politician, and powerful war leaderÐ'--Winston Churchill did it all of this plus much more. Born into aristocracy in the late 1800's, he had always been involved in politics. He worked for Parliament for the majority of his life, starting at the bottom. Throughout the Second World War, He became Prime Minister and made many alliances with world leaders resulting in him becoming the leading figure during the Big Three.

Winston Churchill had many years of military, as well as political, experience. For more than forty years he was a member of Parliament, and over twenty-five of those years he held high ministerial office (Gilbert 3). Having had that background, it made him a good candidate for Prime Minister. After Neville Chamberlain's resignation on May 14, 1940, Churchill then came to power on that day. He took upon a Ð''disaster' that he, as much as anyone else, brought into effect (Stokesbury 88). As Prime Minister, he wanted to confer upon himself the position of Minister of Defense (Blake and Louis 271). Achieving that position would make him first Prime Minister to have conduct in war (Blake and Louis 271). Churchill was able to take upon both positions. In doing this, he was also able to accomplish the roles without defining the powers and authority of they each had to the public.

During the years of World War II, Winston Churchill shared many relationships with multiple world leaders. These relationships were not always good, or in some cases were perceived that way. And in other cases they worked out well bringing his nation ahead in the war.

Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower shared many disagreements all through the Second World War, but these disagreements were never personal. They each came from two separate nations, they shared different interests, and they acquired different responsibilities (Blake and Louis 405). Naturally, those diversities would cause conflict. Although their relationship appeared as one full of bitterness, irritation, harassment, and much disagreement, they shared several similarities and views (Blake and Louis 405).

In any correlation, especially theirs, what they agree on is much more important they what they do not agree on. Their agreements made them the two men in the twentieth century known for fighting the evils of tyranny: communism and fascism (Humes VII).

Both Churchill and Eisenhower believed that the conviction of Anglo-American solidarity was the key to winning World War II. Furthermore, they believed Hitler must be defeated in order to crush the Nazi party; resulting to the end of the war (Blake and Louis 405). James C. Humes described their relationship during the Second World War in a way in which many could relate: Ð''If Churchill was the voice of freedom, Eisenhower provided the implanting hands' (Humes VII).

The relationship between Winston Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt was complicated and in some aspects very secretive, but overall very important to World War II. To the cameras they both showed appreciation to the roles and powers they possessed and made sure they were well liked by the public (Stafford XXI). But when they were not in the public eye, they kept Ð''two great war machines' [Great Britain and the United States] together having great effect on the war (Stafford XXI).

Churchill and Roosevelt were able to create an alliance between their two nations (Stafford XXI). This secret alliance became prevalent while Churchill was First Lord of Admiralty. President Roosevelt had expressed to Churchill a secret alliance he wished to have with Great Britain (Gilbert 45). In addition, he showed much interest in the fate of Great Britain though he still had to keep American neutrality (Gilbert 45).

In secret, Churchill and Roosevelt kept in contact during the war; sending each other messages only they could comprehend (Stafford XX). Churchill sent Roosevelt hundreds of telegrams discussing every aspect of war including strategy and what moves they should make next (Gilbert 46).

Though Churchill and Roosevelt had a strong alliance, they did not think highly of each other as individuals; Roosevelt more so that Churchill. They were different in more ways than alike and had a hard time supporting each other's ideas. But in the end, their affiliation to each other was described as Ð''The Partnership that Saved the West' (Blake and Louis 293).

Another important relationship Churchill had during the war was with Joseph Stalin. For most of their careers, Churchill and Stalin were political adversaries (Sterling). Though they were foes, they came together from 1941 until 1945. During this time, they became allies in hopes to defeat Hitler's ambitions of Germany (Sterling).

Churchill's outlook on the Soviet Union and its government had a complete turn around during the Second World War and on until Stalin's death (Sterling). The two men not only shared a work relationship, but they also shared a friendship. Churchill enjoyed Stalin's Ð''crude witÐ'... lucid conversation, phenomenal memory, negotiating skill, and fulsome hospitality' (Sterling). It was important to the Prime Minister's reputation that they shared a personal relationship; it would eliminate him as an anti-Soviet critic (Sterling).

Although Stalin benefited from the friendship that was being built, he focused on Churchill for his determination on the destruction of Nazi Germany (Sterling). Stalin liked this ruthlessness that Churchill possessed, but he was still lingering on a grudge that he had on him. He did not forget Churchill's views on the Soviet Union and had a hard time trusting